Lowering the bar
"Bush is right: it was 'the wrongdoing of a few' that led to this – the few highest officials that inaccurately planned for postwar Iraq."
Bush visited the Pentagon yesterday to send a public thumbs up to embattled Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. In doing so, he sent the clear impression that he will not do what it takes to extricate the United States from this dangerous mess.
We have often heard that president Bush prizes loyalty above all else among his closest advisers. His recent support for Rumsfeld indicates that he finds it far more important than accuracy or responsibility. Loyalty often goes hand in hand with hyperbole in the Bush White House. That's why it wasn't enough simply for the president and vice president to subtly affirm Rumsfeld's work. Instead, we heard Vice President Cheney call him the best defense secretary ever. And yesterday, president Bush praised Rumsfeld for doing "a superb job," and reminded us that "our nation owes you a debt of gratitude."
This is accountability in the Bush administration.
Bush attempted to put a positive spin on the situation with one of his old favorite lines, noting that despite the scandals, "Who can doubt that Iraq is better for being free from one of the most bloodiest tyrants the world has ever known?" Instead of contenting himself to compare US actions to the absolute lowest common denominator, president Bush should raise the levels of accountability in his administration to the highest levels of office.
We have often heard that president Bush prizes loyalty above all else among his closest advisers. His recent support for Rumsfeld indicates that he finds it far more important than accuracy or responsibility. Loyalty often goes hand in hand with hyperbole in the Bush White House. That's why it wasn't enough simply for the president and vice president to subtly affirm Rumsfeld's work. Instead, we heard Vice President Cheney call him the best defense secretary ever. And yesterday, president Bush praised Rumsfeld for doing "a superb job," and reminded us that "our nation owes you a debt of gratitude."
This is accountability in the Bush administration.
Bush attempted to put a positive spin on the situation with one of his old favorite lines, noting that despite the scandals, "Who can doubt that Iraq is better for being free from one of the most bloodiest tyrants the world has ever known?" Instead of contenting himself to compare US actions to the absolute lowest common denominator, president Bush should raise the levels of accountability in his administration to the highest levels of office.
- Daily Reality Check. Yeah, and I should win the lottery next week, but that's not gonna happen either.
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